My point was that the is no such thing as getting a 135i in "full M spec" with extra secret goodies. Regardless of what Stoutnj believes, he has the ZMP.

Well, it would apply to all M sports if they are 2011, cause M sport before 2011 had the same suspension as the standard 135i in "sport pkg" or "M sport pkg." I have a 2009 and the M sport did not have a different suspension.

There have been comments in some reviews discussing suspension changes for the new 2011, but I don't recall the articles specifically stating that only M sport having different suspension tuning.

Hmmm...could this have changed for 2011? As I said in my previous post, the sales brochure for the 2011 specifically says that "The M Sport chassis is lowered by 0.6" for tighter handling when cornering and a more aggressive look."

So I asked Joern Esser, my salesman at Passport, who put me in touch with Roland Pintilie, Passport's Master Shop Foreman. Mr. Pintilie (an extremenly nice guy!) wrote to me to say that he researched the technical manuals for me, and that "M suspension would be 10mm lower in the front and rear, the spring ratio, shock absorbers and stabilizer bars are different parts from the regular sport package."

So it appears that, for 2011, at least, there's a difference between the Sport and M Sport suspensions. I went with M Sport.

Oh, by the way, greetings all! I just ordered a 135i convertible in Space Gray with Moonlight top and Savannah Beige interior (and EVERY SINGLE option offered!), for Euro Delivery. I go to Germany in August to drive the car.

It states that the height of 128i is 56 inch, and the 135i is 55.4 inch. The 135i has sport suspension as standard so that's why all 135i are 0.6 inch lower than 128i. I guess this is what the sales brochure means. You don't need to get any package to decrease that 0.6 inch, once you ordered a 135i, the '0.6 inch lower' is standard.

I also asked my SA to check the suspension's part number for 2011 135i. He took 2 different 135i in their stock (one has M sport and the other doesn't), and look at the part label sticker on them, result: they are all the same.

In fact, if M sport is another 10mm lower than the regular sport, you can definitely visually tell the height difference for the M sport 135i.

Well, it would apply to all M sports if they are 2011, cause M sport before 2011 had the same suspension as the standard 135i in "sport pkg" or "M sport pkg." I have a 2009 and the M sport did not have a different suspension.

There have been comments in some reviews discussing suspension changes for the new 2011, but I don't recall the articles specifically stating that only M sport having different suspension tuning.

agreed. my point is there is only one "M sport package"... ZMP... The one he got is mass produced and is identical to every other ZMP for that model year. Regardless of what he thinks, or was led to believe, he is not driving a rare car with different specs.

The ///M package is a cosmetic package. I liked the wheels and black headliner better than the standard ones. I would prefer if the ///M badges werent even on the car to be honest... Kind of a poser move imo.

So I asked Joern Esser, my salesman at Passport, who put me in touch with Roland Pintilie, Passport's Master Shop Foreman. Mr. Pintilie (an extremenly nice guy!) wrote to me to say that he researched the technical manuals for me, and that "M suspension would be 10mm lower in the front and rear, the spring ratio, shock absorbers and stabilizer bars are different parts from the regular sport package."

That's a perfect description of the dealer-installed Performance suspension, not the factory-installed M Sport suspension.

adding: I would be so proud of BMW if they made the Performance Suspension a factory option. So I hope your dealer is right, but I doubt it.

The ///M package is a cosmetic package. I liked the wheels and black headliner better than the standard ones. I would prefer if the ///M badges werent even on the car to be honest... Kind of a poser move imo.

It's equivalent to audi's "s-line."

My 2008 has the ///M badges on the wheel and shifter, but in 2008 you got that with the sport package anyway, since there was no separate M-sport package. I do wish I had the black headliner though... that may be the only thing that pushes me toward the M-sport package on my next car if it's a BMW. And Le Mans blue.

Hmmm...could this have changed for 2011? As I said in my previous post, the sales brochure for the 2011 specifically says that "The M Sport chassis is lowered by 0.6" for tighter handling when cornering and a more aggressive look."

So I asked Joern Esser, my salesman at Passport, who put me in touch with Roland Pintilie, Passport's Master Shop Foreman. Mr. Pintilie (an extremenly nice guy!) wrote to me to say that he researched the technical manuals for me, and that "M suspension would be 10mm lower in the front and rear, the spring ratio, shock absorbers and stabilizer bars are different parts from the regular sport package."

So it appears that, for 2011, at least, there's a difference between the Sport and M Sport suspensions. I went with M Sport.

Oh, by the way, greetings all! I just ordered a 135i convertible in Space Gray with Moonlight top and Savannah Beige interior (and EVERY SINGLE option offered!), for Euro Delivery. I go to Germany in August to drive the car.

Looking forward to getting a lot of great info from this board!

This is music to my ears. I had a really hard time finding any solid info on this. Thanks for digging deep.

My 2008 has the ///M badges on the wheel and shifter, but in 2008 you got that with the sport package anyway, since there was no separate M-sport package. I do wish I had the black headliner though... that may be the only thing that pushes me toward the M-sport package on my next car if it's a BMW. And Le Mans blue.

I wish we got the anthracite headliner and Le Mans Blue in 2008 as well, but I'm still happy to have Sparkling Graphite Metallic.

My 2008 has the ///M badges on the wheel and shifter, but in 2008 you got that with the sport package anyway, since there was no separate M-sport package. I do wish I had the black headliner though... that may be the only thing that pushes me toward the M-sport package on my next car if it's a BMW. And Le Mans blue.

Audi S-line gives the S4 bumpers, skirts, and rear. And on the a5, gives it the S5 bumpers, skirts, and rear.

A little different from m sport package since it doesn't change the way the car looks.

I would buy a bmw with only sport package, would not buy an audi without S-line (and I didn't, which is why I got the 135i instead of an A5. (s-line package is only available with prestige package, which raises the cost of the car too much for me)

I know its not an M car but I have push the limits with my 135i on the Highway and kept up with a vert. M3.. The 135i is kinda like a M3 and a 335i had sex and this is what you got... The last thing I have to say its is a very impressive car... Good luck to all..

__________________

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Speed never killed anyone its very important to get that straight, Speed has never killed a soul. Suddenly becoming stationary thats what gets people." - Jeremy Clarkson

I know its not an M car but I have push the limits with my 135i on the Highway and kept up with a vert. M3.. The 135i is kinda like a M3 and a 335i had sex and this is what you got... The last thing I have to say its is a very impressive car... Good luck to all..

No doubt the 135i is a very impressive car. It's peak torque comes on hard and fast, when a M3's does not. The M3 shines at high rpm's when our cars fart out. That coupled with the M3's super rigid suspension puts it in a different league.

The added weight that the vert gives the M3 would probably make the it a touch slower than our cars.

I have spent some time behind the wheel of an M3, and I enjoy the 135i way more for day to day driving. If I was lapping the Nurburgring, I would choose the M3 without a doubt.

A little different from m sport package since it doesn't change the way the car looks.

Except for the wheels.
Also, in the 3-series, the M-sport gets you different front and rear bodywork vs. the regular sport package, though the suspension, seats, and steering wheel are the same.

Quote:

I would buy a bmw with only sport package, would not buy an audi without S-line (and I didn't, which is why I got the 135i instead of an A5. (s-line package is only available with prestige package, which raises the cost of the car too much for me)

The only Audi I'm looking at right now is the S4... so it's a full-on "s" package, although somewhat watered down from previous generation "s" cars, even though it actually performs better.

Hmmm...could this have changed for 2011? As I said in my previous post, the sales brochure for the 2011 specifically says that "The M Sport chassis is lowered by 0.6" for tighter handling when cornering and a more aggressive look."

When compared to a premium package only car? Or when compared to a sport package car....?

agreed. my point is there is only one "M sport package"... ZMP... The one he got is mass produced and is identical to every other ZMP for that model year. Regardless of what he thinks, or was led to believe, he is not driving a rare car with different specs.

The 2011 1 Series Convertible sales brochure/book seems to show a suspension difference for the M Sport Package. In the M Sport description, there's a pic of a car. Under it, it says: "The Aerodynamic kit includes a front air dam with generous air intakes, dynamic side skirts and an athletic rear spoiler. The M Sport chassis is lowered by 0.6" for tighter handling when cornering and a more aggressive look..." That same language isn't in the description of the Sport Package.

Forgive my ignorance, but if the chassis is lowered, I'm assuming the ride will be harsher. Correct?